Collector Bill Koch sues Christie's
- March 30, 2010 23:20
Billionaire art and wine collector William Koch filed a complaint against Christie's International in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday. Koch, who primarily resides in Palm Beach, alleges the auction house engaged in racketeering and is "among the leaders of counterfeit wine sales."
Koch's vast wine collection once numbered 35,000-bottles. Since 2006, he has sued a number of auctioneers, collectors, consignors and wine experts for selling him alleged fakes, including a well-publicized case against Hardy Rodenstock over supposedly counterfeit Thomas Jefferson-owned bottles.